June 6 marks the end of an era in Indian football as Sunil Chhetri, one of the nation’s greatest football legends, takes the field for the last time in an international match. The 39-year-old will lead India against Kuwait at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, concluding an illustrious career spanning nearly 19 years. Chhetri announced his retirement on May 16, and the Kuwait game will be a highly anticipated event as fans gather to witness the legendary striker don the India jersey for the final time.
However, the match is not just a farewell event; it holds significant World Cup qualification implications. India currently sits second in the table, level on points with Kuwait, both teams having 4 points. With a formidable Qatar team as their next opponent, a win against Kuwait is crucial for India’s World Cup hopes. A draw or loss would place immense pressure on India to secure a victory against Qatar away from home.
India has maintained an unbeaten record at the Salt Lake Stadium since 2006, a statistic they hope to leverage against Kuwait. Speaking on the eve of the match, Chhetri emphasized the importance of the game for the team rather than his personal farewell.
“It’s not about me and my last match. I don’t want to address it again and again. We really want to win this game. This is not going to be easy, but we are ready. We will have tremendous support,” Chhetri said.
“If we win tomorrow, we almost qualify. Five top games home and away, I am going to wear nice suits and watch the match wherever the team travels.”
India holds a 3-2 advantage over Kuwait in head-to-head stats from six matches, with one match ending in a draw. Kuwait’s last win against India was in 2010. Last year, the teams met three times, including a draw in the SAFF Championship group stage and a final that India won on penalties.
Manvir Singh was the star when India last defeated Kuwait away from home. Both teams are currently struggling for form and will be eager to secure all three points.
India’s squad for the match against Kuwait:
Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh, Vishal Kaith
Defenders: Amey Ranawade, Anwar Ali, Jay Gupta, Lalchungnunga, Mehtab Singh, Narender, Nikhil Poojary, Rahul Bheke, Subhasish Bose
Midfielders: Anirudh Thapa, Brandon Fernandes, Edmund Lalrindika, Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Liston Colaco, Mahesh Singh Naorem, Nandhakumar Sekar, Sahal Abdul Samad, Suresh Singh Wangjam
Forwards: David Lalhlansanga, Manvir Singh, Rahim Ali, Sunil Chhetri, Vikram Partap Singh
The match will start at 7 PM IST at the Salt Lake Stadium and will be livestreamed on JioCinema. It will also be telecast on Sports 18 1, Sports 18 1 HD, and Sports 18 3 TV channels in India.
